FOSTERING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fostering mean? 

• FOSTERING (noun)
  The noun FOSTERING has 2 senses:

1. encouragement; aiding the development of something

2. helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community

  Familiarity information: FOSTERING used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOSTERING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Encouragement; aiding the development of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

fosterage; fostering

Hypernyms ("fostering" is a kind of...):

encouragement (the expression of approval and support)

Derivation:

foster (help develop, help grow)

foster (promote the growth of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

breeding; bringing up; fosterage; fostering; nurture; raising; rearing; upbringing

Context example:

they debated whether nature or nurture was more important

Hypernyms ("fostering" is a kind of...):

acculturation; enculturation; socialisation; socialization (the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture)

Derivation:

foster (help develop, help grow)

foster (promote the growth of)

 Context examples 

I have seen in his face a far different expression from that which hardens it now while she is so vivaciously accosting him; but then it came of itself: it was not elicited by meretricious arts and calculated manoeuvres; and one had but to accept it—to answer what he asked without pretension, to address him when needful without grimace—and it increased and grew kinder and more genial, and warmed one like a fostering sunbeam.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This special award is aimed at fostering the research careers of outstanding, junior, basic, clinical, and behavioral scientists who are committed to developing research programs highly relevant to the understanding of human biology and human disease as it relates to the etiology, pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

(Howard Temin Award, NCI Thesaurus)

He was kept, to be sure, rather cross and crusty; but on the whole I could see he was excellently entertained, and that a lamb-like submission and turtle-dove sensibility, while fostering his despotism more, would have pleased his judgment, satisfied his common-sense, and even suited his taste less.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)